TDM #1

[labyrinmods]

Arrival / Enchanted Garden

Whether it be sleep or death, you feel your eyes close, and as your body begins to let go, you see a barn owl that is flying through the darkness, soon sweeping you across the clouded sky. You feel yourself mouth the words, “I wish, I wish..” and utter your deepest and darkest desire.

When you regain consciousness, you’ll find you are in an unfamiliar place with no recognition of how you arrived here. You have the clothes on your back, but nothing else. No weapons and if you had a particular superpower, you’ll notice it is missing. All you have is a satchel with a piece of bread, a vial of water and a potion. The potion could be red, blue or golden. There are no instructions about these potions other than two words: Drink Me.

Will you drink it or not?

There is a parchment, handwritten, and it simply gives you a welcoming:

“Welcome to my Labyrinth. Per our agreement, you have consented to live your life here for an undetermined amount of time. In exchange, I will grant you the wish that you desire the most.”

You’re in a garden, surrounded by flowers and plants– most of which you cannot identify. However, there are a few that you can make out: poinsettias and mistletoe. You’ll soon find out that being around the poinsettias give you an odd sense of joy no matter how confusing the situation may seem and the mistletoe, which is left over from the holiday season, gives you the desire to kiss or hold hands with the nearest person to you. It looks like there are plenty of others who are just now waking up from their dream-state as well.. why not go ahead and say hello?

Somnius / Snow Angels

With the influx of new life, the humble town a barkeep tells you is called Somnius seems to come alive as well, with new faces to join that of the resident fairies, goblins and other townfolk. There’s bustling energy to the land that the townfolk will tell you wasn’t quite there before, and some suspect that the presence of the new arrivals might be powering the world around them in some way - but that’s a question to be answered on another day. The quaint town of Somnius needs a little bit of care, that rustic feel to the mushroom houses, old shops and weathered castles too evident at first glance, but it’s not a bad place to live, as the locals will tell you. It almost seems like everything will be okay…

But of course, things are never so simple.

Whether you have been wandering around to get your bearings, talking to the locals or exploring your new humble (very humble) abode, you can expect to find mysterious ice sculptures - fashioned in the shape of snow angels, with blades in their hands - appearing in random places around the town. There are some that manifest in the middle of the street, some that sit quietly at the edge of an inn, and even some that appear right beside your bed, staring at you as you wake up. It’s unclear how these sculptures even got here, but close proximity to them will conjure up feelings of unrest, like you should not step any closer.

It’s smart to trust your gut in these situations. Step too close to a snow angel and it will come to life, moving with the grace of flowing water. They make a vague request and will spare only those able to heed it.

“Cold … so cold … Even the days of Visium are so cold. Have you any warmth to spare us?”

Some angels will accept an article of clothing as warmth. Others are greedy and keep demanding more, wanting to take everything that you have on your body. Heed their requests and they will spare you. Resist even just a little, and that’s when they draw their swords.

It’s not too easy to defeat an angel with brute force given that they reform themselves immediately. Running away or blasting them with fire could do the trick. Be careful not to get cut by their blades, however…

Characters who get cut by their blades will experience an inconsolable sense of chill and emptiness, right down to their bones. They will find themselves desiring ‘warmth’ from others in different ways - whether through physical contact, or affectionate words and gestures. There might be the few who go feverish in their desire for warmth. For those characters – the open fireplace is looking like a very tantalizing place to sit in right now (Yes, sit in, not by). They might even feel compelled to pull a friend in with them. That can’t be good for anyone…

The effects will only subside if the condition of receiving ‘warmth’ is met. This can be in the literal sense (physical warmth and intimacy) or figurative (feelings of love, acceptance and happiness).

Bonfire

When night falls, the temperatures only drop further, which does no favours for the poor souls who had to give up their clothing. The locals want to welcome the new arrivals and give everyone an opportunity to unwind from a busy and chaotic day of being hunted by snow sculptures. That’s why they’ve set up a gathering in the middle of town square. Food and alcohol is being generously supplied by The Cask & Anvil, and marketplace vendors have set up pop up stands to try and cajole the new arrivals into purchasing some fancy new clothes or a pretty gemstone they claim will ward off danger (claims not verified).

At the center of it all is a large bonfire that’s warming up the square. Everyone is encouraged to warm themselves by it after a long day, eat, and make merry. In fact, there’s a certain sense of enchantment to the crackling fire that seems to draw even the shiest wallflower in, pushing them to sit with others and make conversation. As the night goes on, the newly arrived dreamers will find themselves settling easily into the warm and bustling mood, any stresses and anxieties melting away. With time, they’ll start to find themselves without a filter, more than happy to talk about themselves and the life they had led prior to coming to Visium. In fact, they will feel compelled to share a story from their past - one that might be joyous, comedic, thrilling, or tragic. Whatever sorts of feelings come attached to their story, it will be one of emotional significance.

In the back of their minds, they might get the sense someone else is listening.

OOC

Welcome to the labyrinthum TDM! Characters will arrive depowered and with only their clothing, and will be given a satchel with a crystal pendant, a communication device, some water and bread and a magic potion. If they drink the potion, they will manifest an elemental, healing or animal transformation ability.

With the exception of Castle Vaeros, characters are free to go as they please, so feel free to place them in any of the locations available on the map. Yes, this includes the Labyrinth - though characters will not be able to clear the maze. Please comment here to request an outcome for your character's labyrinth exploration and a moderator will get to you shortly. (The longest a character can stay in the Labyrinth is 3 days.)

You can find more information about the game here. Any questions regarding the TDM can go under the comment below.

Comments

[itstillhurt]

[She quirks a skeptical eyebrow.]

What did you have in mind? If it's a wager about dying, it'll be hard for me to collect when I win.

[xploud]

Ugh, he hates it when kids cry. They're messy, snotty, loud, and just...overall unpleasant. Katsuki can't help the grimace that appears on his face, but he just ends up sighing loudly afterwards, letting the little munchkin get it all out. Katsuki may not like it, but it's better for her to just cry now instead of internalizing her fears and emotions for later. That's not healthy, especially for a young thing.

"It's fine," despite his expression, he means it. "It's not good to bottle that crap up, so just cry if you need to. When you're done, we can find a nice place for you to stay in, and I'll keep watch until you fall asleep. That good, you little crybaby?"

He says that, but his tone is lacking a lot of its usual bite. Even he has his limits (sometimes) when it comes to dealing with kids. Especially ones who are noticeably upset.

[acrobacy]

Hahaha. Alright, I'm gonna let you go for now. We'll chat later.

[ IT'S A PROMISE. ]

[tsygan]

( what's this? he's actually going quiet for a minute, maybe longer than that? cain gets the feeling he's struck some kind of nerve without meaning to, and it makes him curious, but it isn't to go out of his way to ask any questions or anything. not yet, at least. they haven't gotten over their first bro spat yet.

of course he's not going to know everything that's going on in rex's head, but he can almost see those gears turning from where he's standing and for the first time in a long while … he waits for some kind of response. he doesn't interrupt, he doesn't shoehorn his own two cents just for the sake of being able to do so, and when the other finally does speak up again?

yeah, there's definitely something going on in that singular brain cell of his. and now he's even more curious.

he shrugs. )

Says who?

[himbomb]

[It’s a difficult question, one that doesn’t have an answer Rex thinks on too hard. He remembers having to steal food for his no-good mother and father and returning home to nearly freeze to death in the harsh Chicago winters, knowing that neon-clad weirdoes were zooming through the sky and keeping the city “safe.”

But safe for who? Rex has experienced a great deal of his own cynicism, tired and burnt out from years of child labor. He’d kept on trudging in his own, selfish little lane until now, where he finally has a chance to make a difference.

He is no great superhero, that much is true. As a combatant, he’s not the strongest or most dedicated guy out there, and as a person, he has even less to offer.

It suddenly dawns upon him that when he had needed someone most, he hadn’t been saved by anyone from the big leagues. In fact, his singular plight as a vulnerable young man victimized by a capitalist, racist society was unimportant to the original Guardians…

But it had meant something to a very young, very freckly faced little girl with the kind of superpowers nobody in her life could understand.

So maybe that’s all it takes. Maybe he doesn’t have to be the all star he’ll clearly never be… To make a difference that is.]

Me, I guess.

And everybody else who does what I do.

They’re better at it, though.

[manufactured]

Of course there are. Though how contagious they are is arguable, and largely depends on how much of an idiot you're being at the time.

[FOR FUCK'S SAKE.]

It's all considered a game of risk and reward, however. You can't expect to gain power like that for free.

[forsakenknight]

[ Solomon picked up in the faint change in his comrade’s smile but decided it was the wrong time to make any inferences about it. He did not know him well enough to make any educated guesses as to why his actions pleased him that much. And perhaps, studying him when he had extended his wing to keep the worst of the chill away from was in bad form. So instead, he inclined his head in friendly agreement. ]

Thank you. I'll accept your hospitality. I’m Solomon Goldsmith. Who’s company do I have the pleasure of sharing?

[revolts]

[ after that, after that—

the world is nothing but free-fall and broken glass. the world grows quiet, hushed, paring down, down, down to just them, to just this. every day of toji's life that he can remember has been confusion, and chaos, and carnage, and pain. it hurts him or it's static, it grips his throat in both hands or nothing. fushiguro toji's life is measured in agony or passing time.

this is a fissure of something in-between, some strange, unfathomable respite.

fuck, the way cain melts for him. he's so tight, so untested, so far from ready for this that it should have both of them at their utmost limit to simply bear this, but cain takes him like he was made for it, like something lost in both of them through this single act is found.

those sounds, too, do something unspeakable to toji, to his sense of self, to his very sanity, something toji only had a tenuous hold on by the thinnest, fraying thread. all it takes is the feeling of cain shifting back against him, rocking into him, taking him that fraction of an inch deeper still.

just broken glass and free-fall.

toji's chest rumble with his next growl, possessive, and he bites down on cain's shoulder next. his fingers dig in harder, bruising, and he obeys that unspoken command with as much single-minded devotion as the one spoken.

he starts slow, pulling out in a single, steady stroke until only just the tip remains. pushing in again just as slowly, he feeds himself back into cain's body in millimeters until he's fully seated once more. he repeats this, over and over, patient and meticulous and relentless, as he covers cain's throat, his chest, his shoulders with bright red imprints of his teeth. ]

[callmeaprincess]

[She smiles warmly.]

It sounds like your sister understands you very well. And telling stories is wonderful - what about yours makes others think they're nonsense?

[fallendragon]

[Arrakis's smirk grew wider. That wasn't a no and he liked her confidence, even if he didn't plan on losing, and his white cat tail flicked back and forth in anticipation.]

You said everyone you know who was noble and altruistic nearly died, so we can use the same guidelines for the bet. If I almost die within the timeline we agree on then you win. However if I survive then I win. The winner owes the other a favor. Sound good?

[madcuriosity]

Well, I don't particularly think they're nonsense, but other people certainly do. Like a baby turning into a pig... or potentially always having been a pig and just being a very ugly baby.

Or a cat that can grin able to disappear and reappear as it pleases wherever it pleases sometimes just as its grin or just as a head. Or playing cards that paint white roses so they have to paint them red because the queen only likes red roses.

[madcuriosity]

"Y-Yes, t-that would be alright, t-t-thank you," she stuttered and sobbed. She cried a bit longer, eventually getting the intensity of her sadness and loneliness out, even if the emotions were not gone themselves.

How could they possibly be?

But she wiped her eyes and blew her nose with her handkerchief, her sobs becoming sniffles until they became just the softest of hiccups.

She's settled down, she's exhausted, and she looks up at Katsuki, eyes red and puffy but ready for whatever it is next.

[tsygan]

( sex has always been transactional — we've established that much, right? — but even though this has only just started it feels like something wholly different, something he isn't going to be able to walk away from even if he'd thought to try, because he might already be thinking that he's going to want to come back, and back, and back as long as toji will let him.

a stray shown something good. given something good that he's never had before, had never thought he wanted in the first place but it's in the way he holds him, like he's already possessing him, and cain thinks … he doesn't mind it. funny how that works, isn't it?

he'll take the broken glass, the free-fall if it means he can have more of this. so much of it that he'll end up feeling drunk off of the way toji touches him, how he fucks into him and it feels like he's touching every raw nerve in him simultaneously,so much that he really can't help the way he tries to meet that next inward movement, that slow thrust that has him giving over a soft growl of his own. something that crawls up from the very center of his chest and leaves his throat feeling scraped bloody, rough and raw, and god does he want more of it.

his thighs are trembling by the third achingly slow thrust inside him, maybe even before that, pulse jumping at every sharp press of toji's teeth to any part of him he can reach and he knows he's going to be bruised to hell by the time he's finished with him, likes the idea of it a bit more than he should as he tests just how tightly he's holding him by way of attempting to rock down against him harder. to take him deeper still, even if he's already bottomed out inside him again. )

Not gonna break. ( he murmurs against the shell of an ear, both hands coming up to fist in dark hair as he bites along the edge of his jaw. he's breathless from both the exertion of taking him so quickly and the way his heart beats with wanting more, and he's only ever known how to take. not — )

Fuck … pojaluista.

( ask.

and just for the sake of introspection, the very literal translation of that is please, sir. so have fun with that. )

[tsygan]

( one might assume that someone coming into a way to make a world better after it's been nothing but cruel to them personally is kind of a no-brainer decision, but it might make cain wonder; if he found out he had powers, if he had a way to make something easier for someone else with them, would he?

he's not an outright bastard, at least not really, since he hasn't been in the habit or learning how to be a decent human being up until now — but the concept of superheroes is something that belongs in fiction, and if it's not cold, hard fact right in front of his face he has a difficult time wrapping his head around simple theoretics.

he's quiet for a second after he gets that response, mulls it over, because he says it with the kind of conviction of someone that's lived by that kind of code, that set of morals, and he has to remember that there are people out there that just want to help for the sake of being able to do it at all.

like some sheltered blond boy he knows. )

Nobody starts out perfect. At anythin'. ( he shrugs. ) Or, shit, even good.

Sorry for the delay - wanted to get more plotting and tagging done in the new event first ))

[forsakenknight]

[ Solomon's smile grew incrementally as he patted at her hair. Her short hair and her urge to tell the truth reminded him of another girl, the one who had gotten away. Even if she was younger, it kept him speaking. Not to manipulate as he had at that time but to comfort, something he was still largely unversed at.

Chevaliers didn't express pain. ]

Although I am a connoisseur of the arts, I have only mastered the basics of the genteel class, dancing and the art of the blade. I never made the time to learn an instrument even when I had more than enough time to consider such lessons.

[xploud]

Yeah, he gets it. Katsuki had his own little downward spiral a bit ago himself, and he most certainly cried as well. It was frustrating, and he's still just as lonely and homesick as he was at the start, but he got out some of that pent up emotion at the least. He can't say that it helped, but it at least eased the pressure. It's a fucking start.

He waits, as patiently as Katsuki can, leaning back with his arms crossed and eyes closed to catch a few winks himself. He wasn't kidding when he said it was past his bed time. The young man goes to bed extremely early and wake up extremely early, unlike the majority of his classmates. He'll pass out the moment he gets home, undoubtedly. But at the moment, he's peeking an eye open and rolling his neck with a light little pop, looking down to see if she's ready. Once she is, he stretches his arms above his head and asks quietly, definitely exhausted himself--

"Want me to carry you? Or you wanna walk?"

[himbomb]

[Rex is, in fact, the polar opposite of sheltered, someone with the kind of background who wouldn't even be able to fathom the life of someone as privileged as Abel. He's impulsive and young, brash and thoughtless, but naive? No.

Perhaps his quest to become a real hero is selfish, at the end of the day. He has hundreds of innocent lives to pay the world back for, and other than the whole combat thing, no real way of making a living legally with that novel-long rap sheet of his. His job as a superhero is a fuck you to his mom and dad, a sign that his life does actually mean something despite hailing from the bottom rung of the socioeconomic ladder, but...]

Yeah, see... If you live long enough for the whole self-improvement shitshow to happen, you're one of the lucky ones.

[Wow, depressing...]

But, hey, whaddya know? The ladies love a guy in tights! It leaves so little to the imagination, they start imagining even worse!

So the deal works out! For me, at least.

I know it's not the same for everybody.

[Far from it.

For the others, they were offered a real choice.]

[fallendragon]

Arrakis Faylare, it's a pleasure to meet you.

[Arrakis quieted the faint whisper that doubted Solomon would consider it a pleasure if he knew the truth, or if he had the chance to meet anyone else from the Faylare family for that matter. He hid his doubts under a polite smile as he gestured in the direction of The Stone Dragon, the local coffee shop. A nice cup of hot chocolate would help keep the cold at bay. Keeping his wing draped over Solomon as they walked was a bit awkward so he let Solomon take the lead. It also let him keep an eye on the snow angel out of the corner of his eye, just in case.]

[revolts]

I know, [ toji growls back hoarse and low, halfway to a snarl, against a fresh bite on cain's collarbone. he still can't think, can't keep ahead of his own thoughts in the unfamiliar haze of his mind, muddled by the entirely foreign landscape of this encounter. it's uncharted territory, and toji feels like a man possessed by the ghost of himself, acting on compulsions he can neither control nor understand.

cain tells him he won't break and toji tells him he knows, because he does, he's known all this time. he's known since he first set eyes on cain in the woods and the snow in all his cocky irreverence. he let the boy fight, let him bleed, let the chill set into his bones, because it's clear even at a glance that cain does not break.

toji knows, and he doesn't care, because simply not breaking is not enough. not here, not for this, not with him. when did that become true? it was enough in the woods, and now—

it doesn't matter. it's true now. it's true now, and toji doesn't understand a goddamned lick of russian but he doesn't need to because he recognizes it as a plea. it's carried in the tone, in the way the syllables tumble from cain's lips.

toji doesn't want to just keep from breaking the marvel he has in his arms. he wants to build cain up, put him together right, take him as high as he can go, at least when it comes to toji. but cain is pleading, and these two compulsions are diametrically opposed.

cain wins out.

toji shivers, because it's a dangerous thing. he can't explain it, can't understand it, and it's a baffling, unspeakably dangerous thing.

with another low, animal noise, toji lets go of all that is left of his sense, of his self-control, of his better judgement. he sits up for leverage, flexes his grip on cain's waist, and then he gives cain everything he's asked for and more.

every muscle in toji's body works in symphony to drive him into cain's willing, pliant body, fucking into him in sharp, relentless thrusts as those broad hands drag cain back and forth in time with each stroke. each thrust flows into the next without pause, without rest, without mercy. ]

[itstillhurt]

A set timeline is worthless. Even the most reckless fool can live a long life if nothing interesting happens to them.

[She seems to be taking the idea seriously, at least, even if only as an amusing thought.]

If a major crisis or other danger arises, then I'll agree to your terms. And really, considering how skilled and capable I can be, I suspect you're getting the better end of this arrangement.

[callmeaprincess]

[Jasmine thinks for a moment - has Genie showed her a phone? Maybe, but he did say something about a TV that has lots of information, maybe the computer is like that? But eventually, she just shrugs, because in Gumshoe's narration it makes enough sense to follow anyway.]

How did Tigre fake the recreation? Did he have help? Is that how you figured it out?

[mahoraga]

[ This wolf is very tame, as far as he knows. He doesn't sense any danger from it at all. As he watches Cain wolf down the sausages (pun intended), he strokes along his handsome fur, scratching his ears. Up close, he really does look like the divine dog, sans the markings it had on its forehead. ]

You like it? [ There's no one around, so he doesn't have to put up those usual emotional walls between himself and other people. Megumi's affected by the scent of one of the special growths in the garden too, and it's spurring him toward an affection he wouldn't have tried to resist very hard anyway.

Because wolves are cute.

His lips curve upward so slightly in a small smile, and once Cain has finished his meal, he kneels closer, continuing to spoil the large wolf with pets and scritches. ] Looks like you were hungry. Are you here all by yourself?

[ Not like the wolf can even understand him, but it's therapeutic to talk to animals. ]

[trenchdoting]

[He strokes at his chin thoughtfully.]

Oh he had help alright! He posed as the victim, and he had a friend posing as Maggey. On top of that, he blackmailed the owner of the joint into playing along with it all. So when one regular came in, this old man, they played out their version of events in front of him to make him a witness!

They were pretty good at what they did. I didn't catch onto it, at first! But it didn't help that Tigre posed as Maggey's defense attorney too and bungled the whole thing. She actually got declared guilty, and I had to bust my hump to get her a retrial!

don't worry! i had a family emergency that had me busy all week

[pollicitation]

[Once she had parted, Eve will be using her red fingerless gloves to wipe her tears away. Whatever she felt before, its effect is now gone, and was now left with the same emptiness she was accustomed to. Whatever had happened, they weren't entirely her own emotions. Or at least, she wanted to believe so.

Her red eyes will turn to the one in front of her. Their wings and tail will catch their attention. How did she hug someone without noticing those very interesting details? Her hand will end up touching one of his wings, curiously.]

Enough.

[She felt as close to her usual self.]

Were you uncomfortable?

[Having a complete stranger cry on his wings. Her attention will be on his cat tail though. Should she touch or...continue to stare at it?]

[pollicitation]

"Gallifrey," she'll repeat slowly to herself, hoping to keep the name close in mind. All she could do was remain close to the Doctor. Accepting whatever kindness he's willing to offer. Her head will remain on his chest and her breathing will improve as he begins to pat her back.

She'll continue to observe him. It was clear from his deep expression he didn't believe her. He believes otherwise. Most likely believing he should have died alongside them, usual signs of survival's guilt. A feeling she knew all too well. Only issue was -- she wasn't very good at comforting others. How can she help him?

Without thinking it twice, she'll end up returning his hugs by taking hold of him in return. Bringing him close enough to wrap her arms around his shoulders. This was all she could do is mirror his kindness.